LRGHealthcare Employees Support Cell Phones for Soldiers

3/20/2012

Imagine not being able to hear your wife’s voice telling you she loves and misses you, or your child’s excitement as they tell you how they are doing in school. Some soldiers cannot talk to their families because of assignment or location, but there are soldiers who do not call home simply because they cannot afford the cost to make the call.

Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPS) is a non-profit organization that provides pre-paid calling cards and free phone services to deployed and returning military members. Their mission is to provide cost-free methods of communicating with family while serving in the United States military.

LRGHealthcare employee Stephanie Caldon has friends who have served, and when she heard about CFS she knew supporting this program was the right thing to do.

“Some people may think the war is over, and that troops do not need our support, but the reality is the troops serving need us more than ever. They are spending longer periods away from home, and that can take an emotional toll,” said Caldon. “Connecting with family is so critical, and if the only thing prohibiting someone from calling home is cost, then we need to change that!”

Stephanie set out on a campaign, asking her LRGHealthcare family to step up and help. She recently collected 120 phones and 7,200 minutes to donate to CPS.

“One of the things I love about working at LRGHealthcare is that we are a family, we help one another,” said Caldon. “Many of us know firsthand what it is like to have family and friends serve. I am so moved by the overwhelming and generous response to this campaign.”

In addition to the CPS campaign, LRGHealthcare also participates in protecting Reservists’ jobs through their time of service, and supports and assists in other ways. For example, LRGHealthcare pays staff during periods of military training and also maintains insurance benefits to family members of those deployed.

LRGHealthcare also offers the unique VetLink program that has helped more than 1000 veterans of conflict from WWII to Iraq find their way into the VA system. Employees also demonstrate individual support by taking the time to write letters and send care packages to the troops.

The CPS collection is continuing at LRGHealthcare, and anyone wishing to donate can find drop-off boxes located at Franklin Regional Hospital and Lakes Region General Hospital.